The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-17
DIAMOND ,sEARCHERs.
AN ENORMOUS LOSS IN SPITE
OF THEM.
The Minute and Degrading Inspec.
tiOn to Which he Kimberley
Diggers are subjected.

gain from the elaborate working mod
els of Kimberly diamond mines
fairly accurate idea of the manner in
which this most important branch of
South African industryis carried on.
Few persons, however. except those
who have lived at the Cape, have any
conception Of the enormous loss to
the legitimate owners and workers OF
the diamond mines caused by the
traffic in stolen diamonds-stolen,
that is, by the native diggers employ
ed in the mines, and sold by them to
the illicit diamond buyers, commonly
known at the Cape as the II. d. b."
Containing IS it does greater value in
smaller bulk than almost any other
known substance, the diamond offers
special facilities for concealment;
and the native digger is not slow to
take advantage Of this fact. Realiz-
ing this from painful experience, the
Kimberly Detective Department,
supported by the Board of Mines,
with the cooperation Of the Cape
government, has established
the searching system which
/ am about TO describe, and
which is probably unequaled in the
rigor and severity OF its tests by any
similar system in the civilized world;
and since, despite all precautions, the
annual loss to the companies by the
II. ID. b. traffic amounts to more
than half a million of dollars, it must
be admitted that the natives, in this
respect at least, are not ut all inferior
to their white brothers in cunning
and ingenuity.
Before entering the claims in the
morning every native is obliged TO
pass through the dressing sheds,
where he must doff the garments of
civilization which the common law
compels him TO wear in the streets Of
the town, and don the regulation
working dress, consisting simply Of a
breech clout and light straw hat.
Clad in this airy garb he labors
throughout the day; excavating the
diamondiferous blue ground" and
shoveling it into the huge iron tubs,
which transport it by the aerial tram
lines to the upper edge OF the vast
crater like pit OF the mine, whence it
is carried to the sorting tables,
spread cut in thin layers, moistened,
pulverized, sifted aud examined by
the sorters or diamond seekers
proper. All this work is carried
on under the supervision OF watchiul
and experienced guards, quick to de-
tect any suspicious movements on
the part Of the native digger; yet SO
adroit has the latter become in his
special branch Of legerdemsin that it
was early found impossible to rely
solely on the guards watchfulness;
and accordingly every native, after
his days work is finished, and be-
fore he is allowed to leave the mine,
is compelled to pass through tho
searching sheds, where he is submit
ted TO q personal examination more
minute and complete than is under
gone by the most desperate Grim
inal in the prisons Of any civilized
country. Indeed, 30 revolving is this
searching system, 10 some Of its de-
tails, that il has been found impos-
sible 10 obtain a sufficient number Of
trustworthy Europeans willing to un-
dertake the duties OF the searcher,
despite the high salary attached TO
the position; aud the actual search
ing is therefore performed (under
European supervisory by natives,
who are presumably less affected by
the degrading nature OF the work.
SINGULAR AND DISGUSTING TESTS.
On entering the searching sheds
the digger is first stripped 10 the skin,
and his hat and breech. clout are
carefully examined. Next he stands
before a window, in a strong light,
and the surface OF bis body is criti-
cally surveyed, special attention be-
ing given 10 any suspicious wounds
or sores on the legs or elsewhere;
since il is by no means uncommon
for the natives TO cultivate chronic
sores for the purpose OF utilizing
their cavities as pouches for dia
monds; or even when they have
found a specially valuable stone, TO
infict severe cash OIL the leg with
the spade, as ii accidentally, aud TO
slip the diamond between the lips Of
the wound while binding Il up. Next,
every kink OF lis woolly hair is sepa-
rately squeezed and pulled; and he
is required 10 raise his arms while
his armpits are examined. The navel,
the folds OF the groin and abdomen
are all passed under review; and this
superficial examination is completed
by the digger turning his back on
the searcher, who lifts up bis feet
one after the other and looks and
feels for possible jewels between his
toes.
The preliminary inspection over
the digger Is next passed over TO
second searcher, who proceeds TO CT
anime the various vim naturalei
whereby a concealed diamond may
have been conveyed below the sur
face Of the body. The ears anC
nostrils are examined with prob'
and speculum; the mouth is openeC
and thoroughly explored, with cy'
and finger, special attention beinl
paid TO any cavities 10 the teeth
The throat is next explored with {
larynesoopo, and a spong probang 4
passed down the gullet; and II an
traces OF blood or larceratious OF Oh,
mucous membrane are detected
such as might have been produced
BY swallowing an angular crystal,
sharp emetic is given on the spot
and 1.-THE innocent cause OF all thi
trouble" is generally recovered. .
The digger who has successful,
passed these tests is next hande'
over TO the tender mercies Of al
other operator, whose duty i is q
detect any possible intestinal con
cealment. This does not, however
complete the examination. 0the
procedures follow Of a nature und
Tor publication anywhere but IN tb,
columns Of a medical Journal bu
Tho reader who has followed thi